Part 5 (1/2)

A short time later father and sons entered their house together. After a late dinner with Mrs. Hardy, the tired sleuths turned in.

When the boys came down for breakfast the next morning they found their father already up.

”There's a letter for you, boys,” he said, pointing to the hall table.

Frank picked up the long, heavy envelope. ”It's from Dean Eastland,” he said. ”Must be the fraternity roster.”

As he spoke, the doorbell rang and Joe hurried to answer. It was a telegram for Mr. Hardy.

”The report on Quill,” Joe said eagerly.

”Bring it into my office,” his father said, leading the way.

The detective opened the telegram and studied the mysteriously coded message. Taking a pencil and pad, he unscrambled the code letter by letter. His sons looked on intently over his shoulder. The information was concise. ”Cadmus Quill. Good student. Good family. Good reputation. Likes to travel.

Made an extended tour of study abroad three years ago.”

”But look at the country he studied in!” Frank said excitedly.

Joe whistled. ”The same one Todd visited last summer!”

”Dad,” Frank exclaimed, ”do you know what this could mean?”

CHAPTER VII.

The Palais Paris ”I GET it!” Joe burst out. ”Both Quill and Todd were brainwashed into helping a foreign power!”

Mr. Hardy spoke up. ”Frank, what's your opinion?”

”My theory,” Frank said, ”is that maybe Todd and Quill had opposing views about this unfriendly country. Joe's jumping to conclusions and maybe I am too, but-”

Frank dropped into a thoughtful silence.

”Go on,” Mr. Hardy encouraged him. ”You may be on the right track.”

”If Todd was against the country and Quill for it, maybe they had a quarrel.”

”Which could have led to Todd's disappearance?” Joe asked.

His brother nodded. ”And whoever ordered the fraternity to haze us in order to scare us off,” he added, ”is in on the plot” Frank was still holding the letter from Dean Eastland. ”Maybe this will give us a clue.”

He slit open the envelope and withdrew a printed pamphlet.

Frank's eyebrows shot up. ”Oh-oh!” he exclaimed. ”Here's our answer!” He slapped the booklet down on his father's desk and pointed to the words on the cover: Delta Sigma Fraternity-Cadmus Quill, Faculty Adviser. ”He probably was behind the hazing.”

Mr. Hardy glanced at Frank and said, ”That certainly fits in with your theory.”

”Yes,” Joe agreed. ”I think the police ought to question Quill.”

Mr. Hardy also thought this would be a good idea, so Frank telephoned the police chief at Kenworthy.

He told the officer what he had just learned. The chief thanked him and promised to call the Hardys back after he had interrogated Quill.

Later, just as the family was sitting down to breakfast, the phone rang. Frank answered. ”Oh, h.e.l.lo, Chief,” he said. ”Any luck with Quill?”

Mr. Hardy and Joe jumped up from the table when they heard Frank exclaim in astonishment: ”He did? ... All right. Thanks a lot. . . . You'll keep us posted? . . . Right. Good-by.”

”What's the scoop?” Joe asked eagerly.

”More mystery,” Frank said. ”Now Quill has disappeared!”

Joe gave a low whistle. ”Kidnapped?”

”Maybe.”

Mr. Hardy's brow furrowed. ”You boys could be close to the truth about that foreign country's being involved,” he said. ”Maybe both Todd and Quill were whisked away because of some political information they gleaned.”

Frank went on to report that the Kenworthy police had issued a seven-state missing-person alarm for Cadmus Quill. ”Only when he's found,” Frank added, ”can we tell whether Quill is friend or foe.”

Various aspects of the case were discussed by the detective and his sons during the meal. What move to take next was the question. Mr. Hardy said that since sabotage had been definitely indicated at the radar site, he could free his sons to concentrate on the Todd matter.

”I vote we look for Quill,” Joe suggested as Mrs. Hardy sliced a broad wedge of homemade coffee cake for Frank.

”Umm! Great as usual, Mom,” Frank remarked, having disposed of a generous bite. ”What do you say, Dad? Shall we follow up the Rockaway clue?”

”Maybe Joe has a point,” Mr. Hardy replied. ”I have a definite feeling that if you find Quill you'll find Todd.”

Joe grinned at his brother. ”Lucky our bags are still packed.”

The boys had gone to their room to bring down the luggage when the phone rang again. Fenton Hardy was first to pick up the receiver in his study.

The caller was Chet Morton, who said that he wanted all three Hardys to hear his story.

”Hold on. I'll get Frank and Joe on the other wires.”

In a few moments Frank was at the hall phone, and Joe at the upstairs extension. ”Are you all there now?” Chet's voice was edged with excitement.

”Right,” Joe said. ”What's up?”

”Maybe you can tell me,” Chet said. ”What is this guy Quill anyhow? A maniac?”

”Quill?” Frank echoed as his father and brother gasped in amazement. ”Have you seen him?”

”Seen him! I'll say so,” Chet replied. ”I think he's out of his head.”

”Come on, boy! Give us the lowdown!” Joe prompted.